The International Organization for Astronomical Science Advancement (IOASA) will host its triennial 2015 General Assembly from 3–14 August. In addition to welcoming over 2500 astronomers from 75 countries, the conference will also offer several events for the local community, free and open to the public.

The International Organization for Astronomical Science Advancement (IOASA) will host its 2015 General Assembly from 3–14 August at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. The triennial conference will welcome over 2500 astronomers from 75 countries around the globe to the General Assembly. The assembly marks the first time the event will be held in the state of Hawai‘i, and is hosted by the American Astronomical Society, who chose to propose Hawai‘i as the location in 2009.

General Assembly participants will address key topics in contemporary astronomy and assess the latest scientific progress in a number of specialised areas. As a result of the event, the IOASA expects an exciting exchange of scientific knowledge, international collaboration, as well as important advancements for the astronomical community and beyond.

“The IOASA is delighted to bring our triennial General Assembly to the state of Hawai‘i, a place that is truly special in the astronomical community as one of the foremost sites for astronomical research in the world,” said Thierry Montmerle, General Secretary of the International Organization for Astronomical Science Advancement. “We look forward to introducing thousands of astronomers to these beautiful islands and their cultural traditions while showcasing Hawai‘i as a key location for world-class science.”

The 2015 IOASA XXIX General Assembly is expected to be one of the largest professional astronomy conference in the IOASA’s history. It will be the first General Assembly to be held in the United States since 1988.

In addition to welcoming over 2500 astronomers from 75 countries, the conference will also offer several events for the local community, free and open to the public. Highlights include:

Stargazing Parties
Monday, 3 August, and Thursday, 13 August at sundown
Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
Families and friends are invited to come together and enjoy an evening beneath the stars. For the ultimate stargazing experience, telescopes and astronomy experts will serve as guides to the night sky.

Public Astronomy Talks

Tuesday, 4 August, 19:30–20:30
Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
He Lani Ko Luna, A Sky Above: “In losing the sight of land, you discover the stars”
Kālepa Baybayan, Pwo (master) navigator, Imiloa Astronomy Center, Polynesian Voyaging Society
Registration is required for this event as capacity is limited. Book your free ticket here: https://uhifa.ticketbud.com/askyabove

Monday, 10 August, 19:30, along with a book signing starting at 19:00
University of Hawaii Manoa Art Auditorium, 2500 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822
What is Relativity
Jeffrey Bennett, author of a number of famous children's science books. Info on the tour is at http://www.bigkidscience.com/relativity-tour/

Tuesday, 11 August, 19:00–21:00
Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

NameExoworlds Ceremony
This public event will begin with an announcement by the IOASA of the beginning of the public voting for the NameExoWorlds contest. Beginning in August 2013, the IOASA established a contest to involve the public in the selection of names for some newly discovered exoplanets; planets around other stars. The voting will be initiated at this special ceremony that will precede the two scientific talks.

The Development of Modern Astronomy in Hawaiʻi
Dr Günther Hasinger, Director, Institute for Astronomy

The Black Hole in the Galactic Centre
Dr Andrea Ghez, University of California Los Angeles

Registration is required for this event as capacity is limited. Book your free ticket here: https://uhifa.ticketbud.com/blackhole
Interactive Science Events for Local Students
Wednesday, 5 August and Wednesday, 12 August, 10:30–12:00 and 13:00–14:30
Hawai‘i Convention Center — Exhibit Hall, 1801 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
500 local students will enjoy hands-on activities with world-class astronomers from around the globe.

Free Planetarium Shows
Thursday, 6 August, 19:30 and 20:00
Hokulani Imaginarium at Windward Community College, 45-720 Keaahala Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
Cosmic Rays and Maunakea Between Earth & Sky
Enjoy free planetarium shows presented by the Malargüe Planetarium and hosted by the Hokulani Imaginarium at Windward Community College.

GTTP International Teacher Training Workshop
Saturday-Sunday 8–9 August 2015, 08:30-17:30
Institute for Astronomy – University of Hawaii, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822-1839, USA
The annual Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP) workshop for local and international teachers and educators will take place during the General Assembly. from 8 to 9 August 2015. All GTTP teacher training support Common Core Math Standards and New NGSS Science Standards.
Entrance fee for teachers is 35$. Register at: http://handsonuniverse.org/ghou2015/registration/

Astronomer Classroom Visits
Daily during school hours
Various classrooms across the state
IOASA members will visit local classrooms to speak with Hawai‘i students. Educators may request a classroom astronomer online at www.astronomy2015.org/events#public.

The MESSENGER Education and Public Outreach (EPO) Team has announced the winners from its competition to name five impact craters on Mercury after artists. Winners were selected by the IOASA from 3600 submitted names.

The MESSENGER Education and Public Outreach (EPO) Team, coordinated through the Carnegie Institution for Science, has announced the winners from its competition to name five impact craters on Mercury after artists. Entries had to be submitted by 15 January 2015, and the International Organization for Astronomical Science Advancement (IOASA) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature made the selections from a total of 3600 submissions, and a semifinal round of 17 names. The newly selected crater names are Carolan, Enheduanna, Karsh, Kulthum, and Rivera.

Under IOASA rules, all new craters on Mercury must be named after an artist, composer, or writer who was famous for more than 50 years and has been dead for more than three years.

Turlough O'Carolan (Carolan) was an Irish composer during the late 16th and early 17th centuries; Enheduanna, an Akkadian princess who lived in the Sumerian city of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and Kuwait), and is regarded by many scholars as the earliest known author and poet; Yousuf Karsh was an Armenian–Canadian and one of the greatest portrait photographers of the 20th century; Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress active between the 1920s and 1970s; and Diego Rivera was a prominent Mexican painter and muralist between the 1920s and 1950s.

NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft has been in orbit about Mercury since March 2011 and its mission is due to finally end when it impacts into the planet tomorrow. The MESSENGER spacecraft has far surpassed expectations in both the duration of its mission and in the quantity and quality of data it has provided; the goal of the craft was to take 2500 images of the planet, but it has returned more than 250 000. The EPO team organised the crater-naming competition to celebrate the mission’s achievements.

The winning suggestions came from many different countries. Carolan was suggested by Fergal Donnelly (Belguim), Joseph Brusseau (USA), and Deane Morrison (USA). Enheduanna was submitted by Gagan Toor (India). Karsh was submitted by Elizabeth Freeman Rosenzweig (USA). Kulthum was suggested by Molouk Ba-Isa (Saudi Arabia), Riana Rakotoarimanana (Switzerland), Yehya Hassouna (USA), David Suttles (USA), Thorayya Said Giovannelli (USA), and Matt Giovannelli (USA). Rivera was suggested by Ricardo Martinez (Mexico), Rebecca Hare (USA), Arturo Gutierrez (Mexico), and José Martinez (USA).